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Franksummers3ba's Blog
A web-log of Frank W. Summers III
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Glossary of Terms Casually Defined, Page One: A to E
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Frank Wynerth Summers III, a.k.a. Frank "Beau" Summers
Autobiography for my Early Years
Autobiography Tonga to New Zealand
Autobiography the Philippines to Steubenville
Making Sense of Race in America & Elsewhere
Autobiography Duson to Divorce
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New Model Constitution of the United States of America
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Model Constitution of the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana: Part One
Model Constitution of the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana Part Two
Model Constitution of the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana Part Three
Model Constitution of the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana Part Four
Model Constitution of the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana Part five
Model Constitution for the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana: Part Six
Constitution of the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana: Part Seven
Model Constitution of the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana: Part 8
Model Constitution of the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana: Part Nine
Model Constitution of the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana: Part Ten
Model Constitution of the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana: Part Eleven
Model Constitution of the Kingdom of the State of Louisiana : Part Twelve
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Obama's Speech at the United Nations: Historic Milestone
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Physical Geometry: Note 1 Terms
Physical Geometry Overview
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Physical Geometry: Note Three Change Principles Governing Mutation, Persisitence, Autonomy and Derivation
Physical Geometry Note 4: Fractal Presumptions
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True Velocity of Any Real Object
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Physical Geometry: Note 10 The Final Note of this Facebook Profile's Introductory Series, Overview of Implications
Radical Constitutional Change in America
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Some thoughts about marriage in America
The US District Court Judge Vaughn Walker has held that Proposition 8 which outlawed same-sex marriage was unconstitutional and that this is because heterosexual couples and same-sex couples were identical. The judge ruled that the ban on homosexual unions was simply a kind of persecution which is at once entirely unmerited and simply cruel. There will be a lot of controversy as this goes through appeals and makes its way to the Supreme Court. But it does raise issues related to marriage and particularly polygamy that I wish to discuss here. I am going to point out a couple of my own posts where I have touched on issues relating to marriage, sexuality and the varied crises and have in one of them at least touched upon polygamy. However, the issues covered in this post do not require a close reading of these posts.
1. https://franksummers3ba.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/why-i-dare-to-advocate-radical-change/
I start with this post above because I think that it is vital that we recognize how far away from any ideal of marriage that has been proposed by the Christian faith in it its most idealistic and monogamous we really are. If polygamy could be achieved for a portion of the many who are having children and expressing their sexuality with no reference to that ideal then it would be progress in terms of social and cultural nearness to both the spirit of Christ and the life of the gospel. That does not mean that there are not real risks and nothing that can be lost which is valuable and precious.
The link below is one in which I have discussed both the nature of human sexuality and also how it relates to social development and royalism. We must find a way to address sexual reality. That is especially true for those of us who have the kinds of ideals that relate to humanism, Christianity and Judaism. It is imperative that we become conversant with reality again.
2. https://franksummers3ba.wordpress.com/2010/04/20/monarchy-and-royalist-culture-in-america-past-present-and-future-part-3-3/
I am a Christian and Christianity has never been the most polygamous religion. However, it has never been as completely anti-polygamous as it currently has almost entirely become. The Roman Catholic theologian Tertullian argued against the common and theologically supported practice of priests (some of whom were celibate even then) commonly marrying two wives and especially sisters. When Tertullian was later disciplined for other reasons it is possible that in part it was because of the portion of the church which believed polygamy was an important part of the Christian tradition for some men in leadership both royals and some clerics especially. But there were few Christian royals (not none) in the third century. This is just part of the picture: Charlemagne who was able to add the filioque procedit phrase to the Western version of the creed was an open polygamist as were all of his sons.
One issue that I think has to be discussed if one is going to discuss polygamy at all reasonably is that one has to begin to visualize it in order to understand it and discuss. Where it has been so universally illegal for so long it is not so easy to visualize. I want to include some film and television references that deal with varied and complex glimpses of polygamy and make it possible to see where the institutions of plural marriage have found their way into American viewerships and audiences. Here are some worth watching:
1. One Night With The King: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0430431/
The first link is to a film that tells the Biblical story of Esther.
2. The Other Boleyn Girl: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467200/
The second link is to a film telling the story of Henry VIII and his women.
3. King David: http://www.amazon.com/King-David/dp/B000JGD264/ref=pd_vodsm_B000JGD264
The third link is to the telling of the story of King David which is extremely important to both Judaism and Christianity.
4. Big Love: http://www.hbo.com/big-love
The fourth link is to a fictional family trying to restore and modernize Mormon polygamy. It is complex, muddied by multiple perspectives at times but I think it is a good show nonetheless.
Then I want to show some examples of contracted relationships between Americans in our history and present. These are real lives past and present that matter to those who live them quite a bit. As a committed son of Louisiana I am pleased to discuss one of the institutions that expressed polygamy in a new and workable way tied to old traditions. Take a chance to look at this and I may return to it later and have actually touched upon this before in other posts. Clearly the social realities of the quadroon ball are very far from where we are now. But if you take a global perspective it is entirely clear to me that they were often superior values and ideals from which we could still benefit some day.
The Quadroon Ball:
I. http://www.frenchcreoles.com/CreoleCulture/quadroons/quadroons2.htm
II. http://www.nathanielturner.com/livesandtimesofquadroons.htm
I also wonder how it would feel to be this young woman in the next video and be aware of all that is disastrous in our sexual realities in the world and still have one's lifestyle just barely outside the criminal. I think it is horribly tragic.
Modern polygamy in the Mormon tradition: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANXeiyGx7To&feature=related
It is to be remembered that if you are reading this blog you are reading the blog of someone who wants to change and reform the government and not either escape or limit it into insignificance. I think that governments of the States of the Union and of not yet existing institutions I have proposed would have a vital role to play in making any polygamous domestic institutions work. It is not entirely clear to me whether the current king of Thailand can be said to ever really have entered into plural marriage. I have not confidential sources and the public sources that I have seen indicate all sorts of contradictory things. It is perhaps a powerful sign of anti-polygamy in the United States that the only true Oriental King to have been born to the rights of an American citizen is part of the possible complete dismantling of an institution so valued in Thailand. However, it may be that it has been a slightly concealed part of his life. To see something about the history of the royal polygamy of Thailand see the next link: http://www.1stopchiangmai.com/articles/dara/
One thing to understand that is really vital is that those of us who would rather not lie, murder slaughter innocents wholesale or proceed blindly into the future have competitors and opponents who would like to have all these thing happen routinely and others who would like most of them to happen often. We can still recognize that polygamy is something less than the best and highest forms of monogamy and acknowledge it has a role to play in the survival of anything that can be called civilization.
I will make on of my personal revelations here in this post. I have been married only once and to only one person. Although I am involved with Christian ministry I am not a regular churchworker and not reaping rewards that would cause me to greatly limit my romantic life on that basis alone. Given the actual realities of my life I think it is true that I have had a very limited sex life outside of the seven years of my marriage. However, I have dated a lot. I have sometimes had more than one girlfriend who knew each other. In a few of those instances I have dated two women who were lesbians and attached to each other. I would not flatter my self so much as to say that had polygamy been legal I might have married those gals, certified one as a covenant mistress and one as her maid or whatever else. But it has been an issue in my actual life. I am getting old and tired and mean and in every way less eager to marry but I feel personally that I have been harmed as well as in the lives of my friends.
There is so much more to discuss. Polygamy has dark potentials and sides that must be resisted and that is why government has a role to play. I am not interested in persecuting homosexuals but I do think commitments between wives or ladies and maids in royal harems meets the needs of those who really need commitment and maintains marriage between a man and a woman. I do not want a world where all monks and canons are presumed homosexual. But I do believe homosexuals who care for each other can find civilized happiness as part of such groups. We must find ways to embrace sane civilized options that are imperfect and build again. We live in a world where ruin and deliberate evil combine to threaten more than most people can imagine. Life will not be improved by further simplifying a too simple society nor by pretending same-sex couples are capable of marriage to each other as heterosexual couples are capable of contracting such unions.
This entry was posted in Asia, Christianity, Frank W. Summers, Geopolitics, Louisiana, Royalty and Empire, Sex, United States of America, Western civilization and tagged Christianity, dating, digamy, Frank W. Summers III, homosexuality, Judge Vaughn Walker, lesbians, marriage, mistresses, moasticism, Mormons, polygamy, Proposition, quadroon balls, royals, Sex, sexuality, Tertullian, `Thailand. Bookmark the permalink.
One response to "Some thoughts about marriage in America"
Oriental Wholesale | August 14, 2010 at 4:14 am | Reply
Canada was the first country to agree to marry gay couples without a residency requirement, allowing couples from all nations to formally commit. Oriental Wholesale
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Reading the story of the transfiguration from Luke (Luke 9:28-36) I am always taken back to a moment spent on the shore of Lake Buttermere when for just that short time everything seemed right with the world and I had the strongest of senses that God loved me and that everything would be OK.
Perhaps we have had those special moments when God seems present in a special way – when we feel something of his glory, his majesty, his closeness, his love. Perhaps not just in good times, maybe in the saddest of times too – God breaks into our fear, confusion or depression, our grief or loneliness and reveals his love or a way out of the mess we feel we are in. Times when we gained a new perspective on our lives. Moments when everything fell into place. Defining moments in our lives.
But moments like these are elusive. Times when God seems so close, are moments that we cannot manufacture – we can't make them happen. We want them to last for ever, but they don't. They're 'mountain top' experiences. And 'mountain top' experiences cannot last. They slip from our fingers. Just as suddenly as we have encountered them, they're gone. They're part of the past – good memories to reflect on.
For Peter the transfiguration of Jesus was one such moment. Just a few verses before our Gospel reading in Luke 9, Peter made a strident assertion of his belief that Jesus was the Messiah – the Christ. And now, in the transfiguration, he is granted a vision – he sees Jesus as he really is – the thin veil between earth and heaven is drawn aside and he sees – he really sees.
Peter wants to cling onto the experience. And to cap it all God speaks. God confirms what Peter has seen.
Then suddenly, like a cloud crossing the sun – it is gone. Everything is just as it was before. Peter is on the top of a normal mountain with Jesus and his two friends James and John. And he has to get on with the real business of being a disciple.
If we read beyond the immediate story of the transfiguration we see just how quickly this feeling of God's closeness dissipates as Peter and the others are faced with the realities of life. As soon as they came down from the mountain, Jesus' disciples tried and failed to heal a sick boy.
'Mountain top' experiences – times when faith is easier, when God seems very close; times when doubt seems irrelevant are not the normal experience of our lives. The majority of our lives are spent plodding on, aware of God somewhere in the background but without that intensity of feeling that we experience on those special occasions. … But special times can fuel our continued faithful walk as disciples of Jesus.
Memories can be a great asset, but they can also be one of our greatest problems. Churches are good at remembering! Looking back to the days when God was really at work in our community! We remind ourselves of God's goodness in the past. Memories like these fuel our ongoing community life. Our belief that God will continue to work today. They give us courage to go on believing. To take risks in serving God in our community.
But memories can also be our greatest problem. Our danger is that we interpret the past or even the present – whatever it is like – as the way things should be. And when God speaks to move us on – we don't hear. Or we chose not to hear. We all do it. We cling onto the 'mountain top' experiences of the past or even the more mundane life of the present; when God actually wants us to move on; to face the challenges and uncertainties of the future. …………. Very few of us like change and if we're not careful we retreat into our memories they become our bastion against the world. And as a result our churches become little more than museums or places of nostalgia.
God is speaking to people in his world. These times when for a moment it seems like the clouds have been drawn back – when God seems to be there. These times are the common experience of all of us – not just those of us who come to church. God often makes himself known outside of our church buildings – the Church of England does not have a monopoly on God. He is present in and through the whole of life.
It is so easy to slip into the habit of thinking that we have God under our thumb. We know how he works. And that he works through us, here, in our church building. When actually he's alive in the experience of the whole of our community – he's there all the time – we don't take him with us when we leave this building into a hopeless and Godless world. Rather, when we leave our church buildings we need to go out expecting to meet him in the lives of those we encounter each day. Ready, together with them, to try to make sense, not only of the mundane and normal, but of moments of illumination – the joy over the birth of a child; the strange insights which suddenly overcome us; the recognition of the beauty of creation. In all these things God is there speaking words of hope, words of love, drawing us back into relationship with him, in his Son, Jesus.
So many people now-a-days have no framework in which to place these experiences. God is no longer easily recognised. He's the stranger who needs an introduction. We need to be on hand ready to help others hear God speaking.
So, next time you experience one of those special moments. Moments of transfiguration. Listen carefully for the voice of God – it'll be the one bringing new perspective, challenge and hope; the one speaking words of love, but at the same time drawing you on into the adventure of life as a follower his Son.
And as you share in other people's joy – help them too to hear God's voice calling them back .
This entry was posted in Ashton-under-Lyne Blog on February 7, 2016 by rogerfarnworth.


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1892: Composer Herbert Howells was born.
1953: Conductor Leopold Stokowski performed the first concert of contemporary Canadian music to be presented in the U.S.
1962: The Beatles first appeared on Great Britain's Grenada TV Network.
1967: The musical "Hair" premiered at New York's Public Theatre. The show ran for 1,758 performances.
1969: "Led Zeppelin II" was released along with the start of Led Zeppelin's third U.S. tour.
1977: "Street Survivors" was released by Lynyrd Skynyrd. Three days later vocalist Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines (Steve's sister) and road manager Dean Kilpatrick were killed when their plane crashed in Gillsburg, MS. The other four members of the band were seriously injured but s
1986: The film biography "Sid And Nancy" opened nationally.
1995: Rhino Home Video released 58 episodes of "The Monkees" on 21 cassettes. It was the largest video boxed set to be released.
1998: The Wilkinsons made their first official appearance on the Grand Ole Opry.
2001: The heirs of Bing Crosby filed a $16 million lawsuit accusing Universal Music Group of underpaying royalties on recordings.
Digital Recording and Clutch Album
Going down in flames
Airpiano Musical Instrument

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


On Halloween, a concerned citizen in Vancouver, WA called 911 to report the location of the car of a shooting suspect who was the object of a police manhunt. Shortly thereafter, SWAT officers arrived on the scene and shot the 911 caller, mistakenly presuming that he was the shooting suspect.
On Halloween morning, 59-year-old Vancouver, WA resident John Kendall allegedly shot his neighbor Abigail Mounce with a rifle, striking her in the face. He then drove to a nearby wooded area, ditched his car, walked into the woods on foot, and took his own life. According to KGW-TV, Mounce is expected to survive her injuries, but doctors may not be able to save her right eye.
After the shooting was initially reported, police initiated a manhunt in an effort to apprehend Kendall. A concerned citizen, who asked to remain anonymous, stumbled across Kendall's car and, hoping to assist police in the manhunt, called 911 to report the location of the vehicle. The Oregonian notes that the unidentified man decided to wait at the location for police to arrive.
The unidentified 911 caller then jumped for cover behind a pile of gravel and shot back a single time, striking no one, before calling 911 again to try and clear up the confusion. Police realized that he was not the suspect, stopped firing, gave the man first aid, and took him to the hospital. He was released the following day. According to KOIN-TV 6, Vancouver police officials claim that the 911 caller bore a resemblance to suspect John Kendall.
Shortly after police mistakenly shot the man who called to assist them in their manhunt, officers found the suspect's body, already deceased, in the nearby woods.
Vancouver Police Department spokeswoman Kim Kapp identified the officers involved in the shooting as Clark County Deputy Anthony Spainhower, Vancouver Police Officer Brian Frances, and Vancouver Police Corporal Chris LeBlanc. Though police investigators are not sure yet which officer fired the shot that hit the unidentified Good Samaritan, an eyewitness interviewed by The Oregonian described hearing four or five shots at the time of the incident.
The three officers involved in the shooting were placed on paid administrative leave pending the results of an internal investigation, which Vancouver police representative Kim Kapp said could be wrapped up by Thanksgiving.


It delivers style and power in a single package! All of the premium features expected of a Subaru are offered, including: leather upholstery, front fog lights, and 1-touch window functionality. Subaru made sure to keep road-handling and sportiness at the top of it's priority list. Under the hood you'll find a 4 cylinder engine with more than 200 horsepower, and for added security, dynamic Stability Control supplements the drivetrain.


Gegenüber weekend bag has been hand cut and sewn from washed full grain Italian mastrotto cow leather with adjustable Nuovo Albora bull leather straps. The bag features a large unlined main compartment with a YKK excella zipper closure with leather pull tabs. The bag is finished off with open scar stitched details and nickel hardware.


The Technology Readiness Infrastructure Grant (TRIG) is excited to welcome its new Project Director, David (Dave) Cairy. Most recently, Dave worked as the associate superintendent at Cedar Springs Public Schools, where he made a significant impact operating as their chief financial officer, as well as guiding numerous educational initiatives. He also had a positive influence in the lives of many students while teaching at South Redford Public Schools and in his role as assistant principal for Gull Lake.
Dave will work out of both the TRIG Operations Office in Lansing, and Kent Intermediate School District. Dave's wife Erin also works in education as a teacher in Cedar Springs Schools. His role as a father of two young boys, Jack and Liam, is always a motivator of his work, and will now be enhanced by his drive to further the technology and instruction for all students in Michigan.


text:
Fight government doesn't want gives Albo an opening
By picking at the scab of WorkChoices, the government's industrial relations bill has given Labor a stronger than anticipated end to the parliamentary year.
Phillip CooreyPolitical editor
If Anthony Albanese takes Labor to the next election, it will be the first time this century that one or both of the major parties would have endured a full term of federal Parliament without dumping their leader.
The term from 1998 to 2001, when John Howard was prime minister and Kim Beazley led Labor, was the last during which stability reigned in both camps.
The Morrison government is shaping up for a fight with Anthony Albanese's Labor opposition over industrial reforms. Alex Ellinghausen
Beazley stepped down after the 2001 loss and Simon Crean became leader. He didn't get the chance to take Labor to an election and was rolled by Mark Latham in 2003.
Beazley took over after Latham's 2004 election disaster only to be rolled by Kevin Rudd in 2006. Rudd vanquished Howard at the 2007 election to lead Labor to power.
After that, all hell broke loose.
Between 2007 and the next election in 2010, Malcolm Turnbull rolled Brendan Nelson for the Liberal leadership in 2008, only to be taken down by Tony Abbott in 2009. Just before the election, Rudd was rolled for the Labor leadership by Julia Gillard.
Gillard fell across the line at the 2010 election but Rudd rolled her in 2013 and took Labor to the election later that year.
He lost and Abbott became prime minister, only to be rolled by Turnbull in 2015. Turnbull fell across the line at the 2016 election but Scott Morrison took him down in 2018 after outfoxing the Peter Dutton camp.
Morrison led the Coalition to victory in 2019 and, as of today, will take the Coalition to the next election. But a question mark hangs over whether Albanese will still be there come polling day.
If WorkChoices was an atom bomb, this was a firecracker, but Labor was on to it like a teenage boy hooking into a loaf of bread.
The purpose here is not to trawl over all that is going on – and not going on – inside Labor, but it is an open secret all is not well.
The scenario is reminiscent of Labor in the early 2000s.
Following the loss of an "unlosable" election in 2001, it mired itself in an existential debate, MPs gave speeches and penned essays about what Labor needed to do to win, and amid a search for a messiah, prospective candidates preened themselves in a highly transparent fashion.
This was apparent last week when a book of essays written by members of the Right faction, including many frontbenchers, was released. All offered theories about the various policy philosophies and demographics Labor needed to embrace if it was to have a fighting chance.
Little, if any, of it was new, even in the current context. Labor's challenge was neatly encapsulated one year earlier in the post-election review conducted by Jay Weatherill and Craig Emerson.
The review found Labor must cull its policies, embrace an economic growth agenda, rebuild bridges with business, and reconnect with blue-collar voters and the suburbs, and respect people of faith if it was to have a chance at the next election.
Albanese said last week there was not much new in the essays. But that wasn't the point as to why they were written.
As one of the many despondent party members quipped this week: "We're stumbling around the lounge room looking for the light switch.''
Sclerotic system
This week, Albanese found one, albeit briefly it seems, when the government released its promised package of industrial relations reforms. By and large, they were true to Morrison's edict to eschew ideology and seek practical measures to unblock the sclerotic system and stand a chance of passing the Senate.
For the first few days, as the measures were rolled out, Labor and the ACTU, the latter of which was a party to the negotiations, struggled to find anything to be too upset about.
"Have a look at members of the ALP,'' a Liberal MP texted this column during question time on Tuesday, as IR Minister Christian Porter was explaining measures to simplify the award system.
"Who would have thought not a peep when the Coalition is talking about IR reform. A long way from WorkChoices!''
That changed on Wednesday when the government announced the inclusion of a provision that would enable businesses affected by COVID-19 to seek two-year workplace agreements that would not have to comply with every element of the Better Off Overall Test that underpins enterprise agreements.
'What a difference 24 hours makes!'
If WorkChoices was an atom bomb, this was a firecracker, but Labor, in need of a win, was on to it like a teenage boy hooking into a loaf of bread.
The same Liberal MP sent another text: "What a difference 24 hours makes! IR reform.''
He attached the facepalm emoji of a man slapping his forehead in disbelief.
Porter had envisaged that only businesses that would continue to suffer for the next couple of years would apply. And only a handful.
These, he suggested, would be primarily those affected by the continuing closure of international borders, such as Great Barrier Reef tour operators, who rely on foreign tourism.
This view may have been well-intentioned but, if so, it underscored a political naivety, a lack of corporate memory even in the Coalition, which, compared with Labor, has very few veterans of the WorkChoices era.
Just lifting the scab by suggesting the removal of no-worse-off provisions was enough to spark claims that every boss would try it on and there would be a race to the bottom on wages.
The industrial reforms package finally sparked a Labor reaction. Alex Ellinghausen
The very "heroes of the pandemic'' would be punished, Labor cried.
"Nurses, supermarket workers, cleaners, teachers, childcare workers, truck drivers and aged-care workers amongst others have helped Australia get through the pandemic. Why is the Prime Minister rewarding their sacrifice and hard work by cutting their take-home pay?,'' Albanese asked Morrison at the start of question time on Wednesday.
This was most disingenuous. Most of those workers are public servants whose employers would be in no position to ask the Fair Work Commission for a special deal. The others, such as supermarket workers, belong to industries that cleaned up during the crisis or have recovered.
But disinformation is what scare campaigns are about. IR law is impenetrable for most voters and the policy area, like health, is not a natural Coalition strength.
By late Wednesday, after every news conference and question time had been dominated by this one controversial provision, the government let it be known it would be heavily amended or even jettisoned if that was what it took to secure the passage of the package.
Last week, Morrison reacted to the first whiff of grapeshot over the war crime allegations by undercutting the military and walking back from a pledge to strip the SAS of a meritorious unit citation.
This week, it was not picking a fight on IR. The brief uproar gave Labor a stronger-than-anticipated end to the parliamentary year but Albanese may soon need to find another light switch.
If he's still there in May next year, that could be superannuation.
Phillip Coorey is the political editor based in Canberra. He is a two-time winner of the Paul Lyneham award for press gallery excellence. Connect with Phillip on Facebook and Twitter. Email Phillip at pcoorey@afr.com
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In the process of Alloy Verification the Niton XLt 898 is the ideal tool for performing Alloy Verification/PMI. It's based on the principle of x-ray fluorescence.
The atoms in the sample under inspection are excited by the x-rays and the fluorescence, which is re-emitted from the sample is measured. From this, the elements are quickly determined as well are their relative concentrations.
The Niton XLt 898 can determine 22 elements including Chromium, Nickel, Molybdenum, Iron, Titanium and Manganese. We have a large number of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs)which we use to ensure that the machine is giving accurate results. They have been manufactured by the Analytical Reference Materials International (ARMI) company and therefore our customers can be satisfied that they are receiving accurate data.
At Gammax we use Niton XLt 898 for testing high quality valves, for use in the Petro-Chemical Industry, Stainless Steel fittings for use in off-shore oil production and high alloy material for use in pressure vessels.
Once the inspection is completed, the data is up loaded on to the PC. It is then transferred, via an Excel spreadsheet to the customer's report thus eliminating any mistakes that could be caused by manually transferring the data. All reports are then digitally signed, using a secure medium and Emailed immediately to the customer.


DALIA is a lovely 5-year-old who is developmentally delayed. Her mother brought her to PROJIMO to see if anything could be done to help her "learn to walk and talk."
On observing Dalia's responses to people and things around her, the PROJIMO team felt the child had a lot more potential than she had realized. She seemed quite alert - but her attention span was short. She would play with a toy for a moment, then drop it. She was beginning to speak a few words, but she had trouble pronouncing them.
Physically, Dalia had difficulty with hand control and with balance. She had a lot of spasticity, mostly in her lower body. She could not stand, even with assistance.
Dalia's mother explained that, as a single working mother, she often had little choice but to leave her daughter alone at home for long periods. For her safety, she locked Dalia in a small room. "I'd like to take her out with me and do more fun things with.her, like visit friends who have children," she said. "But she can t walk and she's getting heavy."
Mari - a wheelchair rider herself - thought a wheelchair might help. She had Dalia try a variety of children's chairs at PROJIMO, to see if any suited her. One small second-hand wheelchair fit her well. Dalia loved it! She made a great effort to roll it by pushing on its wheels. Time and again, her mother said, "Use the hand rims!" But Dalia kept pushing the wheels. (They were easier to grip.) When at last she rolled the chair forward, everyone cheered. Here was a disability aid that held the child's attention, that helped to improve her hand control, that could stimulate interaction outside the home, and that gave her greater independence - all in a form she enjoyed and might well persist with.
Dalia's mother foresees a danger. Dalia's mother recognized the benefits of the wheelchair. But she was worried. "I won't dare take her outside in it!" She explained that they lived in a slum on the edge of the city. The dirt alleys were full of garbage and "doo-doo."
"You see, Dalia always puts her fingers in her mouth. Now that she's discovered she can move in her wheelchair, she'll always have her hands on its wheels! Filth from the street is sure to end up in her mouth and make her sick. Her health is already delicate."
For this reason, Dalia's mother preferred to use a stroller from PROJIMO. It was rather like a baby buggy and, in it, Dalia would lie back passively, unable to reach the small wheels. Mari, a leader at PROJIMO, explained how important it was for Dalia's development that she sit upright, facing forward, to interact with her surroundings. She also explained that, as Dalia rose to the challenge of moving her chair independently, this would help her develop better hand and arm control and self-confidence, and it would open new social (and developmental) horizons for her. This might, in turn, help her improve her speech.
But Dalia's mother stiil worried about the filth from the street. "I guess I just won't be able to take her outside in the wheelchair," she sighed, "unless there's some way to keep her hands off the wheels when we pass through filthy areas."
Looking for a solution: The challenge for the PROJIMO team was to design some sort of "mud guard" to keep the child's hands from reaching the wheels of the wheelchair when passing through mud and filth. The mud guard needed to be simple, low cost, and light-weight. It also needed to be easy and quick to put on and remove.
An innovative solution: A simple U-shaped armrest was cut from plywood.
The two arm supports were wide enough to prevent the child from reaching around them to grasp the wheels.
The back bridge of the "U" was curved to fit around the curved fabric back of the wheelchair. By folding the wheelchair slightly, the armrest could be instantly placed or removed. No clamps or ties were needed.
The entire arm-rest took only half an hour to make (the time to cut out the design with a saber saw, to round the corners and edges, and to sand them). The only cost was that of a 50 cm square sheet of 1/4 inch plywood.
The ease with which the mudguard can be put in place and removed makes it more likely that Dalia's mother will take it off when inside the house. It is important that the mudguard be removed when it is not needed, so that Dalia can increase her hand-skills and learn to move about independently in her wheelchair.


with hairdryers, shower caps and bath sheets. Holo-Krome does not request or knowingly collect personally identifiable contact information from minors. Holo Hostel is situated in the shopping area of Taipei, in direct vicinity of Ximending Shopping Area. This property offers airport transfer, 24-hour front desk and housekeeping. Guestrooms like Basic Room, Standard Double Room, Basic Triple Room and Family Suite are provided with individual climate control, cable TV with on-demand movies, an individual safe, a balcony and a seating area. A free breakfast is served daily. Liability on any claim of any kind, including negligence, for any loss or damage arising out of, connected with, or resulting from the performance or breach of the terms hereof, or from the design, manufacture, sale, delivery, resale, installation, technical direction, inspection, repair, or use. EOS 4,937,297,735.45 1,006,245,120.00 EOS 425,639,166 -0.28 -7.5 6 Stellar 4,300,228,255.22763 104,383,522,082.00 XLM 42,505,570.09 -6.83 7 Litecoin 3,176,511,050.06 58,755,002.00 LTC 283,296,568 -1.24 -7.39 8 Tether 2,209,027,381.97900 3,080,109,502.00 usdt 2,594,498,312 -0.09 -1.65 9 Cardano 1,981,089,193.07641 31,112,483,745.00 ADA 26,158,989.82 -10.94. Users are advised to review the privacy policies of other websites. The rooms also have a parquet floor.
Holo-Krome will repair or replace without charge to the buyer, except for the cost of shipping, products under warranty, which are returned to Holo-Krome's factory which Holo-Krome in its sole opinion finds were not manufactured in accordance with the warranty and have not been subjected. Bitcoin Cash 460.74.07 (0.32) in 12std -10.47 (53.9) in 7t 8,013,826,625 17,393,553, bCH, eOS, eOS.52.39 (0.02) in 12std -5.87 (0.34) in 7t 4,950,990,305 896,148,480 EOS LTC Litecoin.45 -1.31 (0.72) in 12std -5.92 (3.43) in 7t 3,199,644,102 58,764,221 LTC ZRX 0xproject.01. The distance to Sung Shan airport is. This shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the buyer under this warranty. This warranty is expressly in lieu of all other warranties whether expressed or implied, including without limitations any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Please note that Holo-Krome reviews its privacy practices from time to time (i.e. EOS.52.39 (0.02) in 12std -5.87 (0.34) in 7t, lTC, litecoin.45 -1.31 (0.72) in 12std -5.92 (3.43) in 7t ZRX 0xproject.01.32 (0.26) in 12std.82 (0.26) in 7t ETC Ethereum Classic.79 -0.61 (0.06) in 12std -9.98 (1.09) in 7t TRX. Serving both food and drinks, Shin Yeh and Watami Japanese Restaurant are situated around 50 meters from the property. ETH, ethereum 212.47.68 (1.44) in 12std -5.99 (13.5) in 7t 21,803,109,431 102,618,347, eTH, xRP, xRP.473.6 in 12 std -0.23 in 7 tage 18,910,048,668 39,997,634,397, xRP, bCH. Holo-Krome uses the information collected to fulfill your requests. From this number, we can, when requested, certify the chemical analysis, the raw material supplier, and the mechanical/dimensional properties of the product.


Sumeet Vyas and Ekta Kaul are finally married!
Actors Sumeet Vyas and Ekta Kaul finally got married in Jammu after years of being together. The ceremony was a traditional Hindu ceremony. We got hold of a few pictures from inside the wedding where the couple's friends and family were in attendance. We had earlier shared a sneak-peak into their Haldi and Mehendi ceremony….


The findings, published in the March 24, 2010 issue of Nature, match predictions that increasing temperatures will cause a net release of carbon dioxide from soils by triggering microbes to speed up their consumption of plant debris and other organic matter.
Ben Bond-Lamberty and Allison Thomson, terrestrial carbon research scientists at the University of Maryland's Joint Global Change Research Institute in College Park, conducted the study by stitching together almost 50 years of soil-emissions data — 1,434 data points — from 439 studies around the world. To compare measurements, the researchers accounted for differences between the studies, such as mean annual temperatures and techniques used to gauge carbon dioxide levels. They totaled the data for each year to create a global estimate of soil respiration — the flux of carbon dioxide from the ground into the atmosphere.
The researchers found that soil respiration had increased by about 0.1% per year between 1989 and 2008, the span when soil measurement techniques had become standardized. In 2008, the global total reached roughly 98 billion tonnes, about 10 times more carbon than humans are now putting into the atmosphere each year. The change within soils "is a slow increase, but the absolute number is so large, even a small percentage increase is quite a bit," says Bond-Lamberty.
The extra soil emissions could come from two types of sources: microbes and plants. If plant roots are emitting more carbon dioxide, the additional flux could be balanced by increasing rates of photosynthesis, resulting in no net increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
In contrast, warming soils could prompt microbes to break down old sources of carbon that have been locked away for a long time. This would cause a net increase in the atmosphere's store of carbon dioxide.
Although the study shows an increase in respiration, it can't distinguish between the two potential causes.
Thomson and Bond-Lamberty say that their work is just a beginning. They have started an online global soil respiration database to which researchers can contribute additional studies as they are completed. Over time, says Thomson, "we can see if this relationship holds up".
The use of prescribed burns to manage Western forests may help the United States reduce its carbon footprint. A new study finds that such burns, often used by forest managers to reduce underbrush and protect bigger trees, release substantially less carbon dioxide emissions than wildfires of the same size.
"If we reintroduce fires into our ecosystems, we may be able to protect larger trees and significantly reduce the amount of carbon released into the atmosphere by major wildfires," says Christine Wiedinmyer, a scientist with the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and lead author of the new study.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory scientist Surabi Menon set out to isolate the impacts of greenhouse gases from other particles in the air that may be causing the melting of glaciers in the Himalayan mountains. Menon and her collaborators found that airborne black carbon aerosols, or soot, from India is a major contributor to the decline in snow and ice cover on the glaciers.
"Our simulations showed greenhouse gases alone are not nearly enough to be responsible for the snow melt," says Menon, a physicist and staff scientist in Berkeley Lab's Environmental Energy Technologies Division. "Most of the change in snow and ice cover -- about 90 percent -- is from aerosols. Black carbon alone contributes at least 30 percent of this sum."
The findings are significant because they point to a simple way to make a swift impact on the snow melt. "Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for 100 years, but black carbon doesn't stay in the atmosphere for more than a few weeks, so the effects of controlling black carbon are much faster," Menon says. "If you control black carbon now, you're going to see an immediate effect."
This warming is one of two ways in which black carbon melts snow and ice. The second effect results from the deposition of the black carbon on a white surface, which produces an albedo effect that accelerates melting. Put another way, dirty snow absorbs far more sunlight -- and gets warmer faster -- than pure white snow.
Previous studies have shown that black carbon can have a powerful effect on local atmospheric temperature. "Black carbon can be very strong," Menon says. "A small amount of black carbon tends to be more potent than the same mass of sulfate or other aerosols."
Remobilization to the atmosphere of only a small fraction of the methane held in East Siberian Arctic Shelf sediments could trigger abrupt climate warming, yet it is believed that sub-sea permafrost acts as a lid to keep this shallow methane reservoir in place. However, the permafrost under the East Siberian Arctic Shelf is perforated and is leaking large amounts of methane into the atmosphere, according to the findings of an international research team led by University of Alaska Fairbanks scientists Natalia Shakhova and Igor Semiletov.
The East Siberian Arctic Shelf is a methane-rich area that encompasses more than 2 million square kilometers of seafloor in the Arctic Ocean. It is more than three times as large as the nearby Siberian wetlands, which have been considered the primary Northern Hemisphere source of atmospheric methane. Shakhova's research results show that the East Siberian Arctic Shelf is already a significant methane source: 7 teragrams yearly, which is equal to the amount of methane emitted from the rest of the ocean. A teragram is equal to about 1.1 million tons.
Each year, scientists at NASA'S Goddard Institute for Space Studies analyze global temperature data. The past year, 2009, tied as the second warmest year since global instrumental temperature records began 130 years ago. Worldwide, the mean temperature was 0.57°C (1.03°F) warmer than the 1951-1980 base period. And January 2000 to December 2009 came out as the warmest decade on record.
Take a look below at NASA's collection of videos, articles and imagery designed to help tell the story of our warming world.
The U.S. agriculture secretary told a farm group on March 15 that a well-designed climate bill would provide opportunities for farmers and ranchers to make money in contracts for carbon offsets.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture "is committed to helping Congress design and implement a carbon offsets market that will provide significant income opportunities to America's farmers and ranchers," Secretary Tom Vilsack told the National Farmers Union convention in South Dakota.
Climate bill opponents, such as the American Farm Bureau Federation, have said higher fuel and fertilizer costs resulting from the legislation would outweigh revenue from contracts to offset greenhouse gases by planting trees and crops that capture carbon.
USDA chief economist Joseph Glauber said in a memo released by the department in March that "some actions to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions can reduce commodity output." He said converting bare or cultivated land into forests, or afforestation, was one example of where that can occur.
Glauber is working with the Environmental Protection Agency to study ways to improve agricultural carbon offsets. Offsets would allow polluters to invest in clean agriculture projects such as afforestation and techniques to store carbon in soil, rather than cut their own emissions.
"USDA and third-party analyses, as well as our experience in implementing conservation techniques, make it absolutely clear that properly structured legislation will avoid unintended consequences and provide enormous benefits to our agricultural economy, and our environment," Vilsack said.
Democratic Senator John Kerry is working with Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and independent Senator Joseph Lieberman on a bill to require U.S. industry to cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases associated with global warming. The three senators have talked about pollution reductions of 17 percent by 2020 below 2005 levels. The bill would pre-empt the EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. The EPA says it will move to regulate carbon pollution on its own if Congress fails to pass legislation, although there is some opposition to this within both the Senate and House.
Under the current Senate bill being developed, there would be a cap-and-trade system for utilities, with a carbon fee on the oil and gas companies that is linked to the price of allowances in the power sector. Steel, cement, and paper companies wouldn't have to comply with carbon caps until 2016 or later. Nothing has been finalized yet, however.
It does seem certain, however, that the Senate bill will take a different approach than the legislation approved by the House of Representatives in June, and by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in November. That legislation would set an economy-wide "cap and trade" direction to reducing carbon pollution.
At least 15 U.S. states have sued the Environmental Protection Agency seeking to stop it from issuing rules controlling greenhouse gas emissions until it reexamines whether the pollution harms human health.
Florida, Indiana, South Carolina and at least nine other states filed the petitions in the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, states said. They joined petitions filed last month by Virginia, Texas and Alabama.
The Obama administration has long said it would attack greenhouse gas emissions with EPA regulation if Congress failed to pass a climate bill.
The EPA is set to issue regulations that would require autos and light trucks to increase energy efficiency. That would trigger rules on large emitters like power plants requiring them to get permits showing they are using the best technology available to reduce emissions. The state petitions call for the EPA to reopen hearings on the so-called "endangerment finding" the agency issued last year declaring the emissions dangerous to people.
"If EPA doesn't reopen the hearings we will move forward to try to stop them from regulating greenhouse gases," said Brian Gottstein, an assistant to Virginia's Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli.
The states have complained that the EPA relied too heavily from reports by the U.N.'s climate science panel which included information that exaggerated the melting of Himalayan glaciers.
The EPA said it was confident it would withstand legal challenges on the issue. "The question of the science is settled," spokeswoman Adora Andy said.


Stanley Group of Hotels is host to regional and national conferences, meetings, symposia, seminars, retreats, personal study and research. We offer discussion and full-service for individuals and groups.
Stanley Group of Hotels is an ideal place for those who want to run off from their everyday consistent, or who would like to relax in an entirely new environment.
It is also perfect for official meal, large parties and wedding functions. The Bamboo Garden Barbecue Restaurant and playground for children encourages family weekend outings.
Stanley Group of Hotels offers a friendly and comfortable stay for people of every background. It is one of the best tourism and conference centers located in Singida.
There are two beautiful halls which can accommodate 200-300 people. Both halls have an area large enough for groups to stay while waiting.
Stanley Group of Hotels has a large parking area, several comfortable lounge areas and a large veranda where visitors can relax with a friendly chat, read a newspaper, enjoy a cup of tea etc.
Our services is designed for offering a full range of facilities which offer comfort for business professionals, tourists and holiday guests alike. There are 79 well-furnished, clean and comfortable rooms for single, twin or double occupancy. In addition there are 2 executive suites for those who need extra comfort. Each of the rooms and suites has a private bathroom. All rooms are equipped with telephones, Live TV, Hot Shower and breakfast is inclusive.
Our three hotels consist of 81 self contained rooms, 2 family suites spread out to ensure privacy and uniqueness. Each has full en-suite bathroom and a private veranda from which you can enjoy the panoramic views of the village surroundings.
The design is modern and incorporating local materials from the area combined with comfort. The thatched roof on the verandah is working as an extension to your bedroom in the hotel. Hot water available and fabulous sight sees.
We provide solutions for the entire spectrum of business events and accommodation.
We tailor our service to your requirements and adapt to your needs.


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We love our clients and most especially we love that they love us back!


C.Chen a, P. Beutels b, J. Wood a, R. Menzies a, C.R. MacIntyre a, P. McIntyre c, A.T. Newall a. Retrospective cost-effectiveness of the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccination program in Australia. Vaccine,Volume 36, Issue 42, 8 October 2018, Pages 6307-6313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2018.08.084.
The Australian infant pneumococcal vaccination program was funded in 2005 using the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) and the 13-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in 2011. The PCV7 and PCV13 programs resulted in herd immunity effects across all age-groups, including older adults. Coincident with the introduction of the PCV7 program in 2005, 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) was funded for all Australian adults aged over 65 years.
A multi-cohort Markov model with a cycle length of one year was developed to retrospectively evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the PPV23 immunisation program from 2005 to 2015. The analysis was performed from the healthcare system perspective with costs and quality-adjusted life years discounted at 5% annually. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for PPV23 doses provided from 2005 to 2015 was calculated separately for each year when compared to no vaccination. Parameter uncertainty was explored using deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis.
It was estimated that PPV23 doses given out over the 11-year period from 2005 to 2015 prevented 771 hospitalisations and 99 deaths from invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). However, the estimated IPD cases and deaths prevented by PPV23 declined by more than 50% over this period (e.g. from 12.9 deaths for doses given out in 2005 to 6.1 in 2015), likely driven by herd effects from infant PCV programs. The estimated ICER over the period 2005 to 2015 was approximately A$224,000/QALY gained compared to no vaccination. When examined per year, the ICER for each individual year worsened from $140,000/QALY in 2005 to $238,000/QALY in 2011 to $286,000/QALY in 2015.
The cost-effectiveness of the PPV23 program in older Australians was estimated to have worsened over time. It is unlikely to have been cost-effective, unless PPV23 provided protection against non-invasive pneumococcal pneumonia and/or a low vaccine price was negotiated. A key policy priority should be to review of the future use of PPV23 in Australia, which is likely to be more cost-effective in certain high-risk groups.


RAG has conducted all exploration and production activities in Hungary through RAG's wholly owned subsidiary RAG Hungary Kft. founded in Budapest in 2009.
Since 2011 in conjunction with Naftna Industrija Srbije (NIS) - a subsidiary of Gazprom Neft, RAG has developed, drilled and tested a comprehensive portfolio of projects in the existing exploration licenses Kiskunhalas (2460 km2) and Kelebia (530 km2).
RAG was the first company to utilize CRS, Common Reflection Surface – an innovative seismic interpretation methodology – to identify new areas of undeveloped oil and gas potential in Hungary.
As an EU member, Hungary offers a stable investment environment and access to exploration and production rights by way of a bidding and tendering process for hydrocarbon concession areas. Hungary's well developed infrastructure, a liberalised gas market, potentially sizeable untapped hydrocarbon reserves, and a favourable cost environment make it to an attractive location for RAG's international exploration activities.


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UP FROM THE BEACH (1965) 16462
20th Century Fox Lobby Card Set Eight Individual Cards Average Used Condition Very Good Plus to Very Fine
20th Century Fox Original U.S. Lobby Card Set for the Robert Parrish directed war movie UP FROM THE BEACH (1965). The film starred Cliff Robertson, Irini Demick, Red Buttons, Slim Pickens, Broderick Crawford, Marius Gording and James Robertson Justice. Condition varies from card to card.. Some small stains on a some cards. This is a stock image of the set. Please contact us and we can send a photograph of the actual cards if you wish. MovieArt Austin guarantees that this set of lobby cards is a vintage, authentic full set. MovieArt Austin does not sell reproductions.
ROBERT PARRISH - Director
CLIFF ROBERTSON - Actor
Irina Demick - Actor
Red Buttons - Actor
Slim Pickens - Actor
Broderick Crawford - Actor
Marius Goring - Actor
James Robertson Justice - Actor
BEACH BALL (1965) 11119
Paramount Pictures Original One-Sheet Poster (27x41) Folded Very Fine	Original Paramount One-Sheet Poster for the teen film BEACH BALL (1965). This film was another one of those youth-quake...
UP FROM THE BEACH (1965) 2240
Original 20th Century-Fox One Sheet Poster (27x41). Folded. Very good condition. Original 20th Century-Fox One Sheet Poster (27x41) for the Robert Parrish World War II drama, UP FROM THE BEACH...
GIRLS ON THE BEACH (1965) 15791
Paramount PIctures Original U.S. Three Sheet Poster (41x81) Fair Condition Paramount PIctures Original Three Sheet Poster (41x81), folded, and in only fair condition for the William Witney teen film...
Paramount Pictures Original One-Sheet Poster (27x41) Folded Very Fine Condition Original Paramount One-Sheet Poster for the Surf-Teen-Rock movie THE GIRLS ON THE BEACH (1965) directed by William...
DAYTONA BEACH WEEKEND (1965) 11114
Dominant Pictures Corporation Original One-Sheet Poster (27x41) Folded Fine Plus Condition Original Dominant Pictures Corporation U.S. One-Sheet Poster (27x41) for the Bob Welborn directed teen...
JOHN WICK: CHAPTER 3 - PARABELLUM (2019) 28969
Lionsgate Original One-Sheet Poster (27x40) Rolled Double-Sided Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster (27x40), rolled and double-sided, for the Chad Stahelski directed crime action film JOHN WICK:...
DARKEST HOUR (2017) 28952 Gary Oldman as Churchill Movie Poster
Focus Features Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster (27x40) Rolled Fine Plus Condition Focus Features Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster (27x40) for the Joe Wright drama THE DARKEST HOUR (2017) starring...
ENCHANTED APRIL (1992) 5310
Miramax Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster (27x41) Rolled Fine Plus Condition Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster for the Mike Newell directed drama ENCHANTED APRIL (1992) starring Miranda Richardson, Polly...
HUSTLERS (2019) 28784
Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster (27x40) Rolled Very Fine Condition	Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster (27x40) for the Lorene Scafaria directed film HUSTLERS (2019) starring Constance Wu, Jennifer Lopez...
JOKER (2019) 28582
Warner Brothers Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster Rolled Double Sided Advance	THIS IS NOT A DVD or BLU-RAY. Warner Brothers Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster (27x40), double sided and rolled, for the...
BOY ERASED (2018) 28225
Focus Features Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster (27x40) Rolled Very Fine Condition Original Focus Features Reguar U.S. One Sheet Poster (27x41) for the Joel Edgerton biographical drama, BOY ERASED...
BORN TO BE LOVED (1959) 27619
Universal Pictures Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster (27x41) Folded Fine Plus Condition Universal Pictures Original One-Sheet Poster (27x41), folded, for the Hugo Haas directed film BORN TO BE LOVED...
JOURNEY TO THE BEGINNING OF TIME, A (1955) 26091
Original U.S. One-Sheet Poster (27x41) Folded. Good Condition Only	U.S. One-Sheet Poster for the 1966 release of a 1955 Czech animated film "CESTA DO PRAVEKY". This is an animated film about, as...
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Laws of Distraction – thoughts.things.travel.time.
I haven't made a new entry in long time because I was very busy the past few months. For some reason, I kinda like my busy schedule because there's no dull moment in the day.
Since it's the new year, I've been thinking what was 2012 for me?
Hmmm… considering I've hit rock bottom 2011, I think 2012 was a good year. It was a year of transition. I made a lot of changes in my life and I have been enjoying the breath of fresh air!
PANDORA CHARMS – It started at Vietnam when my friends and I went there last May 2012. Marta bought a few charms in addition to her Pandora bracelet. Each collectible charm has a meaning behind it. Furthermore, it can be designed by my own choosing. I was fascinated by it! I want to get one in memory of my travels. I want my charms to represent each place I've been to. So when I went to Macau a few months after, I bought my very own Pandora bracelet. Right now, I have 6 charms from Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Manila. I'm really excited to finish the whole thing!
APPLE – I asked my brother to buy me an IPad as a birthday gift. I am not a techie, and the reason I want an IPad is for my studies. I have a lot of readings and it is difficult for me to bring all of the materials to school. The tablet is handy, practical and a perfect substitute to paper. I also love playing games in my IPad. My favorite is Subway Surfers. In addition to my IPad, I found myself having an IPhone last month. It was free from my line so why not? I really enjoy taking photos and using its apps.
INSTAGRAM – Maita was the one who made my account in instagram because she noticed I was into taking pictures. It is really fun and addicting…in fact, I enjoy it more than Facebook. Thank you Maita!
UNIQLO – Before this brand came to the Philippines, I was already hooked to their clothes because they are inexpensive, comfortable and in good quality. When I went to Japan, I made sure I have at least one shirt bought from Uniqlo. When the store opened in the Philippines, I was happy that their prices were almost at par with Japan. Whenever I visit SM North or Mall of Asia, I try to drop by the store to see if I have something I like.
RED VELVET CUPCAKES – Yes, I joined the bandwagon! What I love about these cupcakes is that it has the simplest flavor I could ask for – no chocolates, no carrots, no banana, no nuts, etc. I love it plain as it is…and it's red!
Thus, I find myself broke by the end of the year.
Last year I made a resolution in my blog. I am happy that I was able to follow it. I really really avoid buying makeup and as you can see, I did travel a lot.
And since I was able to travel a LOT these past months, I've decided that my new year resolution would be: SAVE MORE, TRAVEL LESS.
It does not mean that I strictly won't be travelling outside the country…but I would definitely take into consideration saving money first than buying airline tickets.
As an advance birthday celebration, I took my cousin out for lunch at 7 Corners. It was my first time going there but I knew the place will be good since I read a lot of positive reviews about it. Hence, we drove all the way to Ortigas just to eat there!
Seven Corners is the international buffet restaurant of Crown Plaza located at the 2nd floor of the hotel.
There are a lot of choices! In fact, I ate a piece of almost everything – steak, pasta, soup, dumplings, roti, etc.
They have ice cream teppanyaki for dessert. I didn't try it though. I still prefer ice cream crepe over it. Nevertheless, I enjoyed their chocolate fondue, creme brulee and fresh fruits.
My cousin really enjoyed my treat. She told me that 7 Corners would probably be second on her list of favorite restaurant. I would love to go back there with my family one of these days. I'm sure they would enjoy eating there.
I have been to Midas Hotel a couple of times. In fact Midas Cafe is one of my favorite restaurants in Metro Manila. So when a group buying site offered an eat all you can Japanese Buffet for P399 at Midas Hotel, I bought 5 vouchers for my family without thinking twice.
Yanagi restaurant is located at the Mezzanine of Midas Hotel. It is one among the few restaurants located at this hotel.
In truth, I was not expecting much from this deal. In fact I was not expecting a lot of food to be served considering the price I paid for. A P399/person Japanese buffet in a 5-star restaurant is quite cheap. To good to be true right? Hence, I was just anticipating that the food served is as enumerated in the deal – assorted tempura (Fish, Shrimp & Vegetables), assorted Maki, Sukiyaki, Gohan (rice), assorted fresh fruits, and unlimited tea and coffee. I even prepped my family about it because they might have high expectations from the restaurant.
Alas, I am correct! Only the food enumerated in the deal are served at the buffet. Its just a small spread of assorted sushi, vegetables, mashed potato and sukiyaki. The rice and tempura, however, are served per table. In short you have to order from the waiter if you want another round.
The tempura and sushi taste common. The beef in the sukiyaki was good but their soup base is sweeter than the normal. The Japanese rice is very good! I'm sure the rice eaters would love it.
The restaurant is small compared to Midas Cafe. The place is a bit cramped for me. You can hear other people's conversation at the other side of the table. Also, the waiters/waitresses are all over the place. I would partly blame the craziness of the place because of the part sit-down dinner part buffet style the restaurant offers.
I would have to commend their service. It was easy to call a waiter/waitress and all our request were given. The waiting time for an order of tempura is reasonable enough.
It was an okay experience. There was nothing spectacular about the food but I think I got what I paid for. Would I buy again? Probably not. I would rather spend a few more hundred pesos at another restaurant (such as Yakimix) where there a lot of choices. I did not regret buying the deal though. It was after all a 5-star experience, but I'm not just doing it again.
It seems Mika, Marta and I have become de facto travel buddies this year because aside from going to Brunei last January, we went to Ho Chi Minh a few days ago for another 3 days 2 nights adventure. Unlike our previous trip however, we were accompanied by Mika's two older sister – Ate Anne and Ate Malou – and our dear friend Maxine.
The vacation planning was done from scratch. We booked a cheap airfare courtesy of Cebu Pacific Air (again) and hotel accommodation at Agoda. We chose Grand Silverland Hotel & Spa located at District 1 near Ben Thanh Market. As for the tour and hotel transfers, I was able to contact Buffalo Tours for it. We were happy at their service because everything was well arranged even in such short notice.
As expected, the 2.5 hours travel is another red eye flight. For some reason, I was happy taking a red eye flight to avoid air traffic at Manila airport. We arrived at Ho Chi Minh around 1 in the morning, local time. There is a one hour time difference between Ho Chi Minh and Manila.
One thing notable upon arrival at Vietnam is that tourist don't need an arrival card for the immigration. Only valid passport is needed.
Going to the hotel from the airport could be a little tricky since we arrived in an unlikely time. I even read travel stories that a lot of taxis/vans defraud tourist at the airport. Good thing prior to our trip we arranged a hotel transfer. I was really happy that everything was hassle-free.
Thus, we took a 20-minute ride to the hotel.
When we arrived at Grand Silverland Hotel & Spa, our first reaction was "nice". Considering the price we paid for, the hotel is worth the money spent. The place is not that big for a 4-star hotel but the amenities are okay considering it has a spa, gym and swimming pool.
We were able to settle down around 2am after checking in. We had an early day ahead so we went to bed right after.
We availed a whole day Saigon City Tour which starts at 8am and ends at around 4pm. In short, we had to wake up early in preparation for the whole day ahead. In truth, I was looking forward for breakfast simply because I'M IN VIETNAM!!! The country is known for it's delicious cuisine, so yes, as expected the food is great.
After the whole day tour, we went back to the hotel and rested for a few hours. We then went to Ben Thanh Market which is just a few blocks away from our hotel. We bought a lot of candies, coffee and other pasalubong for a cheap price. Good thing Marta has talent for haggling so we practically just followed her in dealing with the seller.
We went back again to the hotel to drop our things and roamed around the District for a good place to dine. We were adventurous that night so we opted the local ambiance. Ate Anne saw this restaurant where a lot of Vietnamese eating, so yes, we tried it.
Since the menu was in Viet, I don't know how my co-travelers were able to order from the menu. Maxine was extra daring that night that she even ordered frog as an entree.
After eating, we went back to Ben Thanh Market for one last round to check out their night market and afterwards, to the hotel so we can hit the bed early. Thus, we went to sleep.
We have no particular plans for our last day. In short, it's killing time until we go to the airport later that night.
My friends and I slept the whole morning until check-out. After leaving our bags at the concierge we took a taxi to NowZone Fashion Mall and thereafter at Diamond Plaza. We were able to kill a few hours at those malls before going back to the hotel to wait for our airport transfer.
Thereafter, we went back to the reality of Manila.


"Opinions are a dime a dozen," they say. Whoever they are. And I'm sure they ought to know.
So I figure that if a dozen opinions are worth a dime, mine should be worth about a nickel anyway. And I've got a bunch of opinions, and on some subjects I've got several on each side. So all toll, I should think mine are worth a pretty penny.
Another thing they say, is that, "Wisdom comes with age."
Well, I dispute that statement. And as evidence of my position, I present myself. And here I must qualify my statement. If, by Wisdom, experience is meant, that could very well be so. However, I know some (many in fact) people who are no more experienced in old age than they were when they were young. The usual causes were: either they were too fearful to try something new because they might make a mistake (and of course they will), or because they might look foolish in the eyes of someone (and of course they will).
How be it, if they mean Wisdom that comes as a result of making mistakes, and having failures and successes, this I dispute.
Of course, this last group of people will have a great deal more to share than the former group. But the knowledge gained is not necessarily of any use to the person who acquired it; Though it may be to some intelligent youth who uses that knowledge to limit his or her own mistakes and failures.
Before offering myself as evidence, I first present King David, and his son, Solomon of the Bible. These two, I think most people would allow, are considered among the Wisest of the Wise. And their writings have inspired and helped an unimaginable number of people for thousands of years.
David acquired his knowledge and wisdom from experience. He worked hard and suffered much to gain it.
Solomon, on the other hand, did not have to lift a finger, as far as we know, to acquire his. It was handed to him "on a silver platter" so to speak.
David, through mighty deeds, created a great nation, but through treachery and other abuses contrary to his own writings, he mangled his own life along with that of his family.
Afterwards, Solomon took that great nation and through selfish desires set the stage for that great nation's destruction. Meanwhile, his own life departed farther astray of his own wisdom the older he became.
As a final blow, the son (and grandson) of these two Wise men apparently learned nothing from either of their mistakes and training, and drove the final wedge that separated that great kingdom.
Some readers will undoubtedly say, "Why is he talking about wisdom, and what's that got to do with opinion?" An excellent question, and unfortunately, one has very little to do with the other.
But, it should, which is exactly my point.
IF WISDOM WERE INVOLVED WITH OPINION, THERE WOULDN'T BE VERY MANY OPINIONS, Would there?
Earlier I said I would offer myself as sacrifice to help prove my point that age does not necessarily mean wisdom.
I will begin with the here and now, that is the point on which all of us stand at this moment. And please indulge me, my apparent ramblings will eventually connect together to one degree or another.
At any point in our life, we see where we are, and where we have been. We do not see where we are going, but only our hope (or fear) of the future.
But, we know where we are. We think!
Yet, in the future, we will look back and see that we were nowhere near where we thought we were at the time. That is, those who dare to be moving at all. And the farther in the future we look back, the farther afield we appear.
To add to this discrepancy, our view of the past is fogged and distorted by excuses and justifications of our self and our attitudes. That is, all but those we have, hopefully, matured beyond.
It's far easier to say, "This is what I used to do, and this is what I've learned from it, so therefore you should listen to me because of the wisdom I've gained"; then the alternative which is (if confronted with that flaw you try so hard to conceal), "Ok, so I do such-and-such. But just you do what I say, and not as I do."
Many, Many years ago (half a lifetime, in fact), I spent years in therapy.
Part of this therapy was what is called "group therapy." This consisted of anywhere from five to fifty men, along with one psychologist.
For years I had the opportunity to listen to, and take part in, these sessions where each person was expected to examine himself and 'Spill his guts' to the group.
Now, you would think that anyone participating in such a group would do all they could to take advantage of the opportunity to better himself, wouldn't you? And, you would probably think that the psychologist was a person beyond the weakness of his patients, now wouldn't you?
Instead it was a game not far different than what kinder gardeners play. That game consisted of one person talking, and the others tearing him apart. And what the other patients missed, the Doctor would catch.
Of course, this made it easy for everyone to tell stories that they hoped would ease them through each session. The result of which, of course, nothing was gained except another lie and deep-seated problem reinforced.
Another aspect of the game was for each man to watch the others closely to see what won over the Doctor (and if there happened to be a woman there, the game became even more serious). If one person seemed to be doing well in the sessions, others would try to mimic him and finagle his tricks from him so they could look good too.
It reminded me of students trying to find out who had the best cheat-sheets. Learning wasn't important, it was the appearance of learning that mattered.
Another thing that I observed was that the doctors (and there were many of them) would nod and sit proudly on their throne, saying to himself, (and doubtless to each other), "That's true of them." It was as though the fact they had all that "book la'rnin'" they were different from other people.
Now for me. I'm sitting here so high-and-mighty judging everyone else. How was I different?
I was different, in two ways. The first is that my problems were much more intense than most of the others, maybe even all the others, by some accounts at least.
And the second way is, I knew I had many problems and was determined to work through them as best I could.
That meant no games. It also meant no recognition for any progress, in fact quite the contrary because the doctors only recognized the game, not what was real. For one thing, not playing the game meant that their egos weren't being massaged, and they couldn't handle that.
But in all fairness, there were no instructions on not playing the game, so the doctors had no established way to deal with my situation.
And, of course, neither did I have any instructions. So I made plenty of mistakes that could be, and were, quickly and readily pointed out.
As I sat in the groups, I found myself saying, "Yes, that's true of me." So I got to learn a lot about me. Of course I didn't talk in groups, or to the doctors, but I learned a lot.
Incidentally, I must confess, that in the beginning I was one of, if not the most, fatheaded and boisterous of the group, attacking every word anyone said. That is something I wish I could look back on and say it used to be. Over the years I've gotten better, but if I had actually outgrown it, I wouldn't be writing this book, would I?
But I learned. And the most important thing that I learned is: I am like everyone else! I don't mean that I do everything that others do, but in one way or another, that problem that is in them, is in me. It may come out in another form, and it may be in a larger or smaller proportions than someone else's. But it's there.
And the more I try to deny it, the more rooted it is in my ego.
The first is, I can not see, (therefore can not admit) my own faults until I get past them. As I stated earlier, I either see them as foggy justifications for which I still make excuses, or they are so much a part of me that I think that they are ok. I might not think they are ok for others, but for me it's different.
I'm sure you've spotted the fallacy of my thinking there.
But if I can't see them, or are still justifying them -- how can I possibly get passed them?
First of all, when I find myself judging or criticizing someone, even if it's only in my mind, I turn it around and say; "Ok, how do I do the same thing?" If I can't come up with an answer, than I know my problem is bigger than I am able to admit.
Big problems have to be tackled in chunks. You can't swallow a whole watermelon. Nor should you try. But cut it in pieces and eventually, over time, you can digest the entire thing without doing yourself harm.
"How do I do the same thing?" was the question. I look for some small way that I do the same thing, that I can admit to myself, and work at conquering it. I also watch others and see how they apparently have learned to handle a similar problem. It doesn't matter if they really have or not; But it's a starting point for me, and a direction to take in my own quest. I will learn new approaches to the problem as I journey forward.
Some "problems" that I wish to divest myself of, I find just aren't worth the effort. They are me. Things like: I see people who are quiet spoken, calm under pressure, and in what appears to be total control of themselves. I envy that.
And I've tried to emulate it. Many times.
Yet, when I am in a conversation, as I look back on it, I was highly intense, my arms waving in the air, red in the face, and did anywhere from 50-99% of the talking.
And the times I catch myself doing otherwise -- that is, being like I think I should be, I feel phony, and that I am cheating the other person out of being with who they think they are with. Of course, they may prefer the phony person, and very likely do.
Is there a point to all of this? Yes, that point is: just because someone can quote beautiful words, does not mean that they have any understanding of them.
One example of this is; a student once said that he was studying Einstein's theory. When asked if the student understood the theory, he said that he did.
And this is the fallacy in many people's thinking. They believe that because they know about a thing, that they know the thing.
Knowledge is just a bud, a flower in infancy. If not nurtured, it will dry up and wither. If pruned and trimmed properly, it will bloom. And once it has reached full maturity, it dies.
Knowledge should be kept in its budding stage -- ever growing and reaching for the flower stage, but never attaining the point where it appears beautiful, but is in reality only preparing to scatter its seeds and die.
Take those seeds of knowledge, and plant them. But remember, they are only seeds. Treat them as such.
When the world was flat and the center of the universe, everyone knew where their boundaries were. Now that it is round and zooms its way through an ever-expanding infinity, we sense a loss of limits to knowledge.
Avoid advise from anyone who has reached perfect wisdom. They stand on a flat earth with walls of their own making blocking their way to true Wisdom that can never be reached by mortal Man.
If you treat all knowledge as opinion, rather than fact, than you will have no trouble questioning it.
But if it is fact in your mind, than it cannot be changed -- and won't be, by you. But tomorrow someone will have proven you the fool for having believed it as fact.
Do you disagree with my opinions? You are not alone. In fact there is a good possibility that I will disagree with some of them before they are even in print.
So finally, yes there is a finally, Listen to the Wisdom of others, Hear their opinions. Glean them for what applies to you.
Just don't expect to see that same wisdom applied in their own life.
If you are ever in doubt about what I have just said, remember David and Solomon.
And if you are really desperate for more reason, consider what I said about me.